Container construction for dispensing a pasty mass or the like

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a container construction for storing and discharging a pasty mass which incorporates a sleeve member for the pasty mass and a piston mounted in the sleeve member. A threaded spindle serves to axially displace the piston. Such sleeve member possesses a cover member at the end thereof from which the pasty mass is discharged. An applicator element is situated at such discharge end of the sleeve member for distributing the pasty mass. The cover member is equipped with at least one discharge opening for the pasty mass and this discharge opening is narrow in relation to the diameter of the sleeve member.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Manfred Baumann Heerbrugg; Alois Stab], Diepoldsau, both of Switzerland [21] Appl. No. 774,834 [22] Filed Nov. 12, 1968 [45] Patented Nov. 2, 1971 [73] Assignee Baumann AG Diepoldsau, Switzerland [32] Priority Feb. 13, 1968 [33] Switzerland [31] 2094/68 [54] CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION FOR DISPENSING A PASTY MASS OR THE LIKE 1 Claim, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl. 222/187, 222/3 90 [51] Int. Cl. 867d 3/00 [50] Field oISearch 401/175, 262; 222/187, 390, 563

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,150,220 9/1964 Howell 401/262 X 1,679,207 7/1928 Delfoe 222/390 UX 1,322,729 11/1919 Remington... 222/390 2,487,642 11/1949 De Waltoff... 222/390 X 2,695,118 11/1954 Taylor 222/390 3,226,762 1/1966 Norman 401/175 FOREIGN PATENTS 642,077 2/1937 Germany 222/390 Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Norman L. Stack,.J r. Attorney-Wemer W. Kleeman ABSTRACT: There is disclosed a container construction for storing and discharging a pasty mass which incorporates a sleeve member for the pasty mass and a piston mounted in the sleeve member. A threaded spindle serves to axially displace the piston. Such sleeve member possesses a cover member at the end thereof from which the pasty mass is discharged. An applicator element is situated at such discharge end of the sleeve member for distributing the pasty mass. The cover member is equipped with at least one discharge opening for the pasty mass and this discharge opening is narrow in relation to the diameter of the sleeve member.

PATENTEDNBV'Z m 3,616,970

SHEET 2UP 2 Fig. 3 r Fig. 5 Fig. 7

111! I 1 III/111% CONTAINER CONSTRUCTION FOR DISPENSING A PASTY MASS OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved dispensing device and, in its more specific aspects, concerns a new and improved container construction incorporating a sleeve member in which there is mounted a piston which can be axially displaced therein by a threaded spindle.

Containers or receptacles of this type are already known to the art for storing sticklike cosmetic products, wherein the cosmetic stick, after having been used, is again threadably retracted into the sleeve member. However, such type containers or receptacles are not suitable when dealing with pastylike products.

On the other hand, there are also know to the art tubes formed of plastic or flexible or soft plastic containers which are provided at their front region with a sponge or the like. The material or mass which is to be applied by means of such sponge is pressed into the sponge by compressing the container or the like. Upon releasing the container the latter again assumes its original shape, whereby the volume of the expelled material is replenished by drawn-in air. However, this has the drawback that the dosing of the material is inaccurate, since when the container is again compressed initially the air must escape before new material will flow. But if the container is held at an inclination during such time as material is being pressed out then-upon the position of the container-material admixed with air will be discharged through the dispensing opening. Furthermore, it is practically impossible to dispense a residual quantity or material in the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved container construction which effectively overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks of the prior art structures.

Another, more specific object of the present invention concerns itself with the provision of an improved dispensing container for a pasty mass or the like which allows for accurate dispensing of such mass in a quick, reliable, and efficient manner.

Still a further significant object of the present invention relates to an improved container construction or the like for dispensing a desired material contained therein, such container construction being relatively simple to operate, economical to manufacture, and extremely reliable in operation, also capable of being mass produced.

Yet a further significant object of the present invention relates to an improved container construction for dispensing materials in quick, reliable, and accurate fashion, and wherein the entire or practically the entire container contents can be dispensed.

Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of the invention, which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the invention contemplates securing an applicator element at the discharge end of the sleeve member at the inside of which there is housed or stored the pasty mass, and further wherein, the cover for the sleeve member possesses at least one discharge opening for the pasty mass which is narrow in relation to the diameter of the sleeve member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a first embodiment of container constructed according to the teachings or the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through a second embodiment of inventive container;

' FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through a third em bodiment of inventive container;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken through the sleeve member of the container depicted in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through a further embodiment of inventive container construction in which the applicator element is disposed at an inclination to the axis of the sleeve member;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the container construction depicted in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through still a further embodiment of container construction equipped with a wormlike drive for displacing the feed piston member of such container construction; and

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the sleeve member used in the container construction of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawings, the exemplary embodiment of inventive container depicted in FIG. I incorporates a cylindrical sleeve member 1, preferably formed of a suitable plastic material, at the inner compartment 6 of which there is disposed a piston member 2. This piston member 2 can be displaced in axial direction through the: agency of a threaded spindle 3. Furthermore, piston member 2 is secured against rotation with respect to the sleeve member I in that, in this embodiment, the outer skirt or wall of the piston 2 and the inner wall of the cylindrical sleeve member I possess a corresponding polygonal configuration, or else, there can be, if desired, a wedge or key which slides in a keyway. In fact, any other suitable expedient to prevent relative rotation between the piston member 2 and the sleeve member 1 can be provided. Furthermore, it is also possible to configure the outside of the sleeve member 1 so as to be round or circular and the provide at the inside a number of bevels.

Continuing, it should be appreciated that the rotation of the threaded spindle 3 is undertaken by means of a rotary knob or bottom cap member 4 which is seated at the lower end of the sleeve member 1 and rotatably supported by such sleeve member. Moreover, in order to ensure against an unintentional detachment of the rotary knob or bottom cap member 4 from the sleeve member 1 the lower end of this sleeve member is advantageously equipped with a marginal bead portion 5 which engages in an appropriate groove means or rifi'ling 44 provided at the bore of the rotary knob or bottom cap 4. This rotary knob 4 is likewise preferably formed of a suitable plastic. The dimensions of the annular or marginal bead 5 are chosen such that this rotary knob or bottom cap 4 can be subsequently mounted onto the sleeve member I and then such annular bead 5 engaged with the riffling 4a. In fact, it is desirable that one of both components, narnely either the sleeve member I or the rotary knob 4 be elastically deformable to such an extent that the rotary knob can subsequently be pushed onto the sleeve member.

Proceeding with the description of this embodiment it will be recognized that between the cover member 7 of the sleeve member 1 and the inner walls 10 of such sleeve member and the piston member 2 there is located the internal space or compartment 6 serving to receive and accommodate a pasty mass or the like, for instance, preferably a shoe cream. However, it would be obviously possible to fill this inner compartment 6 with other pasty or similar type masses such as adhesives, cosmetic products, shaving cream, coloring material or dyes, or the like. Furthermore it will be seen that an applicator element, here shown in the form of a small sponge 8 is nondetachably secured to the cover member 7 of the sleeve member 1. This sponge 8 is preferably formed of plastic and possesses an open-celled structure. Instead of using a sponge 8 as the applicator element it would obviously also be possible to use a felt, a small brush, a brush or spatula, or other equivalent type of expedients. This sponge 8 is covered by a protective closure cap 9 during the nonuse of the container structure. This cover cap 9 is either mounted or pushed onto the discharge end of the sleeve member 1 or threaded thereon by means of a short threading. At the central region of this protective cover or closure cap 9 there depends downwardly a mandrillike or pluglike protrusion 10 which extends piercingly through a central opening 14 of the applicator sponge and furthermore through a material discharge opening provided at the cover member 7, as best evidenced by referring to FIG. 1.

Thethreaded spindle 3 is fixedly retained for rotation at its lower end by means of a multiple-edge projection 12, for instance a square or hexagonal projection, in a hub 16 of the rotary knob or bottom cap 4. Above this projection 12 there is located at the threaded spindle 3 a disk member 11 possessing a greater diameter than that of the projection or shoulder 12. After insertion or mounting of the rotary knob 4 the threaded spindle 3 is nondetachably connected with this rotary knob 4 by means of a head member 13 or equivalent fastening device. For instance, this could be achieved by upsetting the projection 12 of the threaded spindle 3 or in the case of plastic by flatly pressing the head member 13 under the action of heat. Finally, it is also mentioned that the applicator element 8, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated, extends substantially throughout the entire cross-sectional area of the cover member 7 and its opening 14 is here shown substantially centrally located in order to receive the depending plug or projection 10 of the protective cap 9.

It might here be mentioned that throughout the remaining Figures there has generally been conveniently used the same reference characters for similar or analogous components. Thus, turning attention now to the modified form of inventive container construction as shown in FIG. 2, it should be recog nized that such possesses a larger diameter and, therefore, has a somewhat greater capacity than the arrangement of the container of FIG. I. In contrast to the embodiment of FIG. 1, in this instance, the central hub 22 of the rotary knob or bottom cap 4 is externally constructed as a multiple-edge projection or shoulder, which for instance has six edges and engages into a hollow spindle provided with the threading 21. The inside of this hollow spindle 20 possesses a similar cross-sectional shape as that of the hub 22, so that both elements fit tightly in one another and therefore provide a rigid rotatable connection between such elements. Furthermore, it will be recognized that at the upper end face of the hollow threaded spindle 20 there are located at least two pinlike projections 25 which come to bear with some play against the cover member 7, so that the upper end face, in each instance, is spacedly retained somewhat from the cover member 7. As far as the mode of operation of this embodiment it is analogous to the embodiment considered in conjunction with FIG. 1.

Turning now to the variant container structure shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, here the sleeve member 1 will be seen to possess a substantially square cross-sectional shape and, in contrast to the previous embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, the rotary knob 4 does not extend over the external surface of the sleeve member I.

The remaining embodiments of container construction shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and 7 and 8, respectively, are carried out such that the applicator element 8 is located upon an inclined surface which is tilted or inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the associated threaded spindle 3. In the case of the construction of container of FIGS. 5 and 6 the rotary knob 28 is situated at the upper end of the threaded spindle 3 and extends past the width or sidewalls of the sleeve member 1, which in cross section is shown to be substantially rectangular in FIG. 6, so that this rotary knob 28 passes through lateral slots 21a at the side walls of the sleeve member 1. Rotation of the threaded spindle 3 can also be undertaken by means of a wormlike drive transmission which, as best shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, incorporates the gears 32 and 33. This has the advantage of providing a large transmission ratio and therefore a fine dosing of the material to be dispensed.

The mode of operation of the preceding considered exemplary embodiments of inventive container construction for dosing or dispensing a pastylike mass or the like will be apparent from the following description. It may be assumed that the container contains a shoe cream which is to be dispensed and is of a size so that it can be easily and comfortably held in a hand of the user. During nonuse of the container the protective closure cap 9 is mounted at the upper region of the sleeve member 1 and prior to use of the container would be removed. The internal compartment 6 of the sleeve member 1 is filled with a pastylike or viscous shoe polish or cream for instance. By rotating the bottom cap or rotary knob 4 relative to the sleeve member 1 the piston member 2 will be advanced upwardly by the action of the threaded spindle 3, in other words will be pushed into the interior of the internal compartment 6. Consequently, a portion of the material located in the internal compartment 6 will be pushed upwardly through the discharge opening 15 so that a thin pastylike strand arrives at the upper surface of the sponge 8. Now, with the aid of this sponge 8 containing the expelled material the shoe cream can be wiped onto the shoe, whereafter such can be polished. Upon having finished the application of the shoe polish to the shoe the closure cap 9 is again placed back onto the sleeve member 1 or threaded thereon, so that the plug 10 prevents any formation of crusty material at the discharge openings 14 and 15 and also prevents any drying out or the material filled into the container.

Naturally, instead of providing a single central opening 15 at the sleeve cover member 7 it would also be possible to provide a number of relatively small openings distributed over the cover member 7, so that the pasty mass can be pressed from the cover member 7 into the applicator sponge 8 which, then, must possess an open-celled structure.

Furthermore, it would be possible to mount the applicator element 8 together with the cover member 7 so as to be detachable and exchangeable upon the upper portion of the sleeve member 1.

It should be apparent from the foregoing detailed description, that the objects set forth at the outset to the specification have been successfully achieved.

ACCORDINGLY,

What is claimed is:

l. A container construction for storing and discharging a pasty mass therefrom, comprising a sleeve member for storing a pasty mass, a piston within said sleeve member, a threaded spindle for axially displacing said piston within said sleeve member, a rotatable knob connected for rotation with said threaded spindle, means for securing said axially displaceable piston in said sleeve member against rotation, said sleeve member having a cover member at the end thereof from which the pasty mass is discharged, an applicator element situated at the discharge end of said sleeve member for distributing the pasty mass, said cover member being provided with at least one discharge opening for the pasty mass, said discharge opening being narrow in relation to the diameter of said sleeve member, said applicator element being provided with a discharge opening, said discharge opening of said cover member and said discharge opening of said applicator element being in flow communication with the internal compartment of said sleeve member storing the pasty mass, and a detachably mountable cap member provided with plug means piercingly insertable through said discharge openings of said applicator element and said cover member, respectively, for the purpose of preventing undesired accumulations of the pasty mass at said discharge openings which might tend to obstruct flow of the pasty mass from said sleeve member to said applicator element, said rotatable knob possessing a bore means provided with riffles, said sleeve member possessing a marginal bead means engaging with said ritfled bore means of said rotatable knob, and at least said rotatable knob or said sleeve means being elastically deformable to such an extent that said rotatable knob can be subsequently pressed onto said sleeve means. 

1. A container construction for storing and discharging a pasty mass therefrom, comprising a sleeve member for storing a pasty mass, a piston within said sleeve member, a threaded spindle for axially displacing said piston within said sleeve memBer, a rotatable knob connected for rotation with said threaded spindle, means for securing said axially displaceable piston in said sleeve member against rotation, said sleeve member having a cover member at the end thereof from which the pasty mass is discharged, an applicator element situated at the discharge end of said sleeve member for distributing the pasty mass, said cover member being provided with at least one discharge opening for the pasty mass, said discharge opening being narrow in relation to the diameter of said sleeve member, said applicator element being provided with a discharge opening, said discharge opening of said cover member and said discharge opening of said applicator element being in flow communication with the internal compartment of said sleeve member storing the pasty mass, and a detachably mountable cap member provided with plug means piercingly insertable through said discharge openings of said applicator element and said cover member, respectively, for the purpose of preventing undesired accumulations of the pasty mass at said discharge openings which might tend to obstruct flow of the pasty mass from said sleeve member to said applicator element, said rotatable knob possessing a bore means provided with riffles, said sleeve member possessing a marginal bead means engaging with said riffled bore means of said rotatable knob, and at least said rotatable knob or said sleeve means being elastically deformable to such an extent that said rotatable knob can be subsequently pressed onto said sleeve means. 